Method for fabricating an interlayer-dielectric film of a semiconductor device by using a plasma treatment prior to reflow

ABSTRACT

The surface of a borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) dielectric film is changed through a surface treatment, such as by plasma etching with N 2  O, O 3  or O 2 . Erosion caused by H 2  SO 4  boiling or by humidity absorption from the atmosphere is thereby reduced so that reflow processing at temperatures below 850° C. is possible and an interlayer dielectric film of excellent planarity is thus formed.

This application is based on Korean Application No. 91-19176, filed on Oct. 30, 1991, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for fabricating an interlayer dielectric film for a semiconductor device. Particularly, it relates to a method for fabricating an interlayer dielectric film for a semiconductor device capable of 1) overcoming functional limitations on borophosphosilicate concentrations in the film and 2) reducing erosion due to H₂ SO₄ boiling. This is accomplished by performing a surface treatment on a borophosphosilicate glass film after the deposition thereof onto a semiconductor substrate.

2. Description of Prior Art

Some very large scale integration (VLSI) processes would benefit from being performed at lower temperatures than those necessary for phosphosilicate glass (PSG) reflow (1,000°-1,100° C.) because such high temperatures result in excessive diffusion of junctions. Furthermore, metal oxide semiconductor gate oxides cannot be exposed to high temperature processing (i.e. beyond 900° C.). However, flowable glass is still very desirable for facilitating film coverage over abrupt steps in the substrate topography. Glass flow temperatures as low as 700° C. can be obtained by adding boron dopant (e.g. B₂ H₆) to the PSG gas flow to form the ternary (three component) oxide system B₂ O₃ --P₂ O₅ --SiO₂, borophosphosilicate glass, or BPSG.

BPSG flow depends on film composition, flow temperature, flow time, and flow ambient atmosphere. Reportedly, an increase in boron concentration of 1 wt % in BPSG decreases the required flow temperature by about 40° C. However, increasing the P concentration beyond about 5 wt % does not further decrease BPSG flow temperature. Furthermore, there is an upper limit on boron concentration imposed by film stability. That is, BPSG films containing over 5 wt % boron tend to be very hygroscopic and unstable, and if used, should be flowed immediately following deposition. It has also been reported that rapid thermal annealing for 30 seconds at a temperature 100°-175° C. higher than that used in a conventional furnace step will result in equivalent BPSG flow. The ambient gas of the flow cycle also affects the flow mechanism. By using a steam ambient instead of N₂, the minimum required flow temperature is reduced by about 70° C.

In addition to exhibiting these low temperature flow properties, BPSG (like PSG) is an alkali ion getter and exhibits low stress. Because of its doping, however, BPSG can also be an unwanted diffusion source to underlying silicon. It is found that BPSG is primarily a source of phosphorus, and the phosphorus outdiffusion is increased at higher boron concentrations.

Because of the BPSG characteristics mentioned above, atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) using O₃ and organic-source has been recently used. This example is disclosed at page 6 of the Ozone/Organic-Source APCVD for ULSI Reflow Glass Films, by Yasuo IKEDA, Youichirou NUMASAWA and Mitsuru SAKAMOTO, VLSI Development Division, NEC Res. & Develop. No. 94, published in July, 1987.

When BPSG used as an interlayer dielectric film becomes submicron, BPSG reflow causes junction breakdown due to thermal stress, so low temperature reflow processing is desirable. According to the conventional process technology, planarization of interlayer dielectrics (ILD) is accomplished by carrying out H₂ SO₄ boiling, then BPSG reflow for deposition. FIGS. 2A and 2B show processing flow diagrams according to a conventional art technology. FIG. 2A depicts a pattern where a conductor 1 is formed and FIG. 2B depicts that BPSG 2 is deposited on the conductor 1. After BPSG with high concentrations of B and P (i.e., from 4 to 15 wt % of both B and P) is deposited, H₂ SO₄ boiling is carried out together with a surface treatment, and BPSG is then flowed. As the manufacture of from 1 M bit DRAMs to 64 M bit DRAMs has been achieved, BPSG low temperature reflow under 850° C. is required.

The outer-shell electron configuration of B or P in BPSG is different from that of silicon ions. As the number of outer-shell electrons for B and P is respectively changed from 3 to 4 and from 5 to 4, charge deficiency or increase in the oxygen ion occurs. As the network structure between atoms becomes weak, the melting point drops. As the concentration of B and P in the film increase, the melting point drops further because the network structure becomes weaker. However, in a case where BPSG films containing B and P in high concentrations are deposited, then followed by H₂ SO₄ boiling without surface treatment, the films exhibit a significant tendency to crack. If BPSG films are left exposed in the air, they react with atmospheric humidity and crack. Thus, an expected benefit in using BPSG cannot be realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages by providing a method for fabricating an interlayer dielectric film for a semiconductor device which is capable of avoiding exterior stress resulting from H₂ SO₄ boiling or absorption of atmospheric humidity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating an interlayer dielectric film for a semiconductor device which has good flow properties at low temperatures without being susceptible to cracking or bursting, by preventing BPSG from undergoing stress due to high concentrations of B and P.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a method for fabricating an interlayer dielectric film comprising the steps of:

preparing a semiconductor substrate having electrical elements thereon;

depositing a dielectric film containing boron and phosphorous in high concentrations on the substrate;

carrying out a surface treatment on the dielectric film through plasma etching; and

performing reflow at lower temperatures.

In addition, a plasma source gas for the plasma etching surface treatment is selected from among N₂ O, O₂ or O₃.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A to 1C show processing flow diagrams according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show processing flow diagrams according to a conventional art technology;

FIGS. 3A to 3C and 4A to 4C show sectional views of SEM microphotographs after surface treatment according to the present invention;

FIGS. 5A to 5C show sectional views of SEM microphotographs according to a conventional art technology; and

FIGS. 3A, 4A and 5A are side sectional views of FIGS. 3C, 4C and 5C, and FIGS. 3B, 4B and 5B are partial enlarged views of FIGS. 3A, 4A and 5A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A to 1C depict processing flow diagrams according to the present invention. FIG. 1A shows the formation of a conductor 1. FIG. 1B shows a borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) film 2 deposited on the conductor 1. After deposition of BPSG (with concentrations of both B and P from 4 to 15 wt %), a dry-etching 3 is performed, as shown in FIG. 1C. Plasma etching is customarily used in such an etching.

In order to attain the object of the present invention as mentioned above, O₃ -Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) BPSG is used under deposition conditions which may be as follows: TEOS-3SLM; Trimethylborate (TMB)-40 mg; Trimethylphosphate (TMOP)-1.5SLM; O₃ concentration-5%; O₃ +O₂ flow-7.5SLM; and temperature-420° C.

In a comparative test, three different O₃ -TEOS BPSG films are deposited to a thickness of 6000 angstroms on three different polysilicon substrates under the conditions described above. Among them, one is treated by the N₂ O plasma etching according to the present invention, another is treated by N₂ +NH₃ plasma processing, and the last under a conventional treatment without etching (FIGS. 2A to 2B). After that, the three patterns undergo H₂ SO₄ boiling under identical conditions to each other, then are flowed in a nitrogen ambient for 30 minutes at 850° C.

The pattern which was treated by the N₂ O plasma etching according to the present invention shows no erosion from H₂ SO₄ boiling and has good flow characteristics for achieving a desired level of planarity (refer to FIGS. 3A to 3C).

The pattern which was treated by the N₂ +NH₃ plasma processing shows some erosion and its flow characteristics are not as good as that of the film treated by N₂ O plasma etching (FIGS. 4A to 4C).

Finally, the BPSG pattern with high B and P concentration which was treated in the conventional manner without surface treatment shows severe cracks from H₂ SO₄ boiling (FIGS. 5A to 5C).

The plasma etching conditions of the present comparative test may be as follows: temperature ranging from 200° C.; RF power of 150 W; and the plasma source gas, N₂ O and N₂ +NH₃, separately for five minutes. Even if these conditions change and the plasma source gas is substituted with O₃ or O₂, etc., characteristics similar to the above can be obtained. That is, unstable free B₂ O₃ on the surface of the BPSG is processed by N₂ O or O₂ plasma etching, thereby changing into a B--O--Si structure, or forming a new SiOx film.

In a case where BPSG is flowed for 30 minutes at a temperature 800° C. in N₂ ambient, after surface etching and H₂ SO₄ boiling are carried out, the B and P spectrums are similar to spectrums of the deposition state. However, in a case where surface treatment is not performed according the present invention, the spectral peak of B is remarkably lower.

Shrinkage in the former case is significantly less than in the latter case (i.e., with surface treatment rather than without). Surface treatment according to the present invention after the deposition of BPSG can prevent erosion caused by humidity absorption and outdiffusion of boron such that excellent flow characteristics are achieved at reflow temperatures generally less than 850° C. In addition, problems such as junction breakdown from thermal stress can be reduced or eliminated because of the lower flow temperatures.

In summary, untreated BPSG with high B and P concentrations can be used in the same applications as those to which the present invention is directed. However, severe erosion caused by H₂ SO₄ boiling or by humidity absorption from the atmosphere is very apparent, especially with increased B concentrations. Thus, there is effectively a limit on B and P concentrations. According to the present invention, however, BPSG having high B and P concentrations may be used in conjunction with surface treatment thereof, such as N₂ O plasma etching, so that low temperature flow can be performed while minimizing erosion and tendencies towards bursting or cracking. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for fabricating an interlayer dielectric film comprising the steps of:(a) preparing a semiconductor substrate having electrical elements thereon; (b) depositing a dielectric film containing boron and phosphorous onto said substrate; (c) carrying out a surface treatment on said dielectric film through a plasma treatment; and (d) performing reflow after performing said surface treatment, at a temperature below about 850° C. after said treatment.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said dielectric film contains boron at concentrations ranging from 4 to 15 wt %.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said dielectric film contains phosphorous at concentrations ranging from 4 to 15 wt %.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plasma source gas for said surface treatment step is selected from the group consisting of N₂ O, O₂ or O₃.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of wet cleaning the surface of the dielectric film prior to said reflow step.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said wet cleaning step comprises H₂ SO₄ boiling. 